Mansfield Woodhouse Army reservist honoured in New Year’s list

An Army reservist from Mansfield Woodhouse has received a Queens Volunteer Reserve Medal (QVRM) in the 2015 New Year’s Honours list.

Mick Hancock (53) received the award for his outstanding service with the Army Reserve.

Explaining how it felt to receive the honour, Mick said: “A limited number of QVRM awards are presented each year so I’m very proud and appreciative of my nomination and now receiving the honour.

“Being in the Army Reserve has changed my life. I’ve met lots of good people over the years that I have had the opportunity to train and serve with in locations around the world. I’ve met friends for life; learnt from others and have gained respect from my colleagues for my knowledge and experience.”

Mick Hancock, who works as a lorry driver in his civilian career for Norbert Dentressangle, joined what was formally called the Territorial Army (TA) in 1985. Since this time he has trained with units in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire including the Mercian Regiment in Mansfield.

Mick has recently transferred to the Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment in Sheffield where he has the opportunity to pass on his experience and expertise to the unit’s young Officer Cadets.

Mick continued: “I’d recommend joining the Army Reserve to anyone. I’ve travelled to places I never could have visited in my normal civilian life, such as completing military tours of Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“My wife has always been incredibly supportive of my Reserve commitments for which I will ever be grateful. Receiving the QVRM is really the icing on the cake for me. My 30 year Reserve career is something I will never forget. In fact if I could have my time again I would only change it so I could join the Reserves earlier than I did.”

In his spare time, Mick is also a keen sportsman playing regular games of football and running whenever he can.